United States

Percent change in population:

Is the population growing?

Why it matters

Latinos and other communities of color are the fastest-growing segments of the population in most regions, but these groups tend to face barriers to accessing the educational and economic opportunities they need to fully participate and prosper.

DREAM Acts Open Up Opportunity for the Next Generation

Nationally, there are roughly 2.1 million DREAMers: undocumented youth who were brought to the U.S. as children. Access to in-state tuition provides them with a better chance of getting a college degree and boosts their future earnings potential. At least 18 states have passed laws permitting undocumented students who meet certain criteria to pay the same tuition at public colleges as their classmates. The economic potential is significant: a federal DREAM Act that also included a pathway to citizenship would add about $329 billion to the economy. Read more.